From LaBelle, Florida for Hendry and Glades County and the Lake Okeechobee region. Don Browne, editor.

Friday, July 16, 2004

Arson Arrests In LaBelle

On July 11, 2004, Sunday morning at approximately 7:17am, deputies werecalled to 4050 Ft. Denaud Road after receiving a call from Amanda Brownreporting that her vehicle had just been stolen. When deputies arrived,Brown reported to them that her mother had witnessed Jacob McDade and JamesTownsend leaving her home early that morning in her vehicle, and a shorttime later heard is strike a mailbox a short distance from her home. Laterin the morning investigators were asked to respond to the area of Grandma'sGrove on St Rd 80 to look into the possible arson of a vehicle that hadbeen identified as the belonging to Amanda Brown. A joint investigationwith the Hendry County Sheriffs Office and the State Fire Marshal's Officerevealed that the vehicle had been intentionally set on fire, and throughinterviews with the suspects both individuals were placed under arrest andtaken to the Hendry County Jail.James Roland Townsend, 20 years of age, was arrested and charged with GrandTheft Auto. Townsend is currently released on bond. Jacob Aaron McDade,24 years of age, was arrested and charged with Grand Theft Auto and Arsonand is presently in the Hendry County Jail.